“The announcement of the appointment of Bishop-elect Bolen to the diocese of Saskatoon brought me the joy one experiences when two of your best friends get to meet each other,” said Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, a former bishop of Saskatoon, and a former pastor of Bolen’s. “Saskatoon is a wonderful Church, vibrant, generous, alive, and Don Bolen is a wonderful person, intelligent, faith-filled, deeply human. This is a marriage literally made in heaven.”

Saskatoon Diocesan Administrator Rev. Ron Beechinor said the appointment of Bolen is great news for the diocese of Saskatoon. “The Lord has done great things for us. We are filled with joy,” Beechinor said. “We are very fortunate. It’s a wonderful appointment.”

In choosing Bolen to be bishop of Saskatoon, the Holy Father has selected a gracious and deeply spiritual leader, said Archbishop Daniel Bohan of the Archdiocese of Regina.

“Msgr. Bolen has been truly generous in his service to the Church both in his home archdiocese of Regina and at the level of the universal Church in his years with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome,” Bohan said. “I am confident will be welcomed gladly by the people of the diocese of Saskatoon. He will leave Regina with our warm congratulations and prayers.”

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity greeted the news of Bolen’s appointment with “great joy and profound thankfulness” noting that Bolen’s strong faith in Christ, together with his vision and energy will equip him to lead his new flock in the diocese of Saskatoon.

Bolen said that he is honoured and humbled by the appointment, which brings with it many mixed feelings.

“I have heard wonderful things about the Diocese of Saskatoon, and while it is going to take a little while to get my mind around all that is involved in being a bishop, it will be a great privilege to serve there, and I look forward to all that lies ahead,” he said.

“At the same time, I am saddened at the thought of leaving the parishes of Balgonie, Pilot Butte and St. Peter’s Colony, and the generous and welcoming people of those faith communities. Likewise, the Archdiocese of Regina, its archbishops, priests and faithful, have nurtured my priesthood, giving me a home, constant support, and endless opportunities to learn and to serve. I treasure the many friendships in Christ which have nurtured me there and which I will carry with me.”

Bolen’s priestly, academic and ecumenical work has been marked by a passionate concern for Christianity’s dialogue with contemporary culture, and the need to “give an account of the hope that is within us as Christian community “ (1 Peter 3:15).

“Many in our day struggle with doubts, and there are no shortage of external challenges to our faith. But God is faithful, and the Holy Spirit is moving us to rediscover old and chart out new ways to give an intelligent, articulate and convincing account of our hope, our faith,” said Bolen.

The son of Joseph and Rose Bolen, Donald Bolen spent the first years of his life on a farm in a German Catholic area west of Gravelbourg. The family moved into the town of Gravelbourg after the death of his father in 1968, when Donald was seven years old.

After high school he studied English and Religious Studies at Campion College at the University of Regina, completing a BA Honours in 1982.

In 1986 he entered Saint Paul Seminary in Ottawa for the Archdiocese of Regina, eventually completing a B.Th., M.Th. and L.Th. through Saint Paul University. He was ordained to the priesthood Oct. 12, 1991.

In September 1994 he began doctoral studies at Oxford University in England, exploring theology of the agreed statements of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. Before he could finish the thesis, he was asked to take up a teaching post at Campion College, and was subsequently appointed to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity for a five-year period 2001-2006, which was eventually extended to 2008, working in the area of relations with the Anglican Communion and World Methodist Council.

“Without doubt, the research into Anglican - Roman Catholic relations which was carried out at Oxford has been put to good use in my work in Rome, and I had the privilege of serving on the dialogue commission which was the subject of my research,” says Bolen.

In November, 2008 Bolen was awarded the Cross of Saint Augustine by the Archbishop of Canterbury for his service to relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

Bolen’s ministry assignments in the Archdiocese of Regina have included associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish in Estevan, administrator at Church of Our Lady, Moose Jaw, as well as at parishes in Milestone and Lang; and priest moderator of Paroisse St. Jean Baptiste, Regina. He has served as a faculty member in the department of Religious Studies at Campion College, teaching courses in Christology, Contemporary Christianity, and Ecumenical Dialogue, as well as an introductory courses in Religious Studies, and Religious Studies Methodology. He has served several years as chair of the archdiocesan Ecumenical Commission, and since August has served as vicar-general in the Archdiocese of Regina.

From January to May of this year Bolen also held the Nash Chair in Religion at Campion College. He is an Associate Priest of the Madonna House Apostolate, and an Oblate of St. Peter’s Benedictine Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan.

The CIDA-funded overseas program received matching financial support from KAIROS’ member churches, church-related organizations and other donors. Since 1973, KAIROS, and the church coalitions from which it was formed eight years ago, had received funding from CIDA to support partners working in regions experiencing some of the world’s most egregious human rights violations.

KAIROS' work is highly regarded in Canada and overseas. As the November 30th deadline approached, KAIROS member churches, its partners and other organizations had been writing Minister Oda to request that she approve the KAIROS contract which has been sitting on her desk since July awaiting her signature.

One of those letters came from a Colombian group, the Organización Femenina Popular (the Popular Women’s Group), which has been awaiting CIDA funding through KAIROS.

“As you know, we work in regions in Colombia where armed conflict has resulted in the denial of women’s basic rights. The economic support from KAIROS and CIDA permits us to implement programs which include legal and health services, community kitchens, and other humanitarian assistance that have saved many lives and given possibilities and opportunities to hundreds of women, mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and entire families,” Yolanda Becerra Vega, OFP Director General wrote to Bev Oda on Monday.

“In addition to the impact overseas, these cuts are a loss for Canadians,” says Corkery. “KAIROS educates Canadians across the country about Canada’s work for international development. Our work in Canada and overseas expresses Canadian values in upholding human rights, and is informed by excellent analysis of our partners in the Global South.”

The KAIROS contract that just expired received a positive audit and excellent CIDA evaluation this year. KAIROS submitted its new program proposal for 2009-2013 to CIDA in March 2009. It went through a lengthy approval process within CIDA up until the Minister’s level and has been waiting for approval from the Minister since July 2009.

The government’s decision comes a week after 57 people were massacred in politically motivated killings in the Philippines, including two lawyers from a human rights organization supported by KAIROS, and just days before Prime Minister Stephen Harper heads to China.

Media contact:
Adiat Junaid
Communications Program Coordinator
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
(416) 463 5312, ext. 223
1 877 403 8933, ext. 223

www.kairoscanada.org

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